Short Stories of Science and Invention

A Collection of Radio Talks by

Charles F. Kettering

Weekly, from September 1942 to July 1945, Charles F. Kettering gave
five-minute intermission talks about Science
and Invention during the
radio broadcasts of the General
Motors Symphony of the Air.

Kettering invented the first automobile self-starter, and for 31 years
directed a research laboratory for General Motors.

These radio talks are a fascinating legacy from the mind of a prolific
inventor. The obvious anachronisms now add a historical perspective of
the war-time period in which they were written.

These web pages now preserve some of the most popular stories for a
new generation to read The text and art come from a General Motors
booklet of selected talks. (Reprint, March 1959)

15. Harnessing the Iron HorseA Radio Talk by Charles F. Kettering

America emerges from this War as the strongest military Nation in the
world. This may seem strange to many of us because we are not a
military minded people. A second look into this seeming
contradiction shows our military strength came in part from our great
pre-war industries. One of the oldest of these is the railroad. It
has played a major role in achieving the great Victory today. But it
has also been an important factor in building America for more than 100
years.

The year 1830 is an important one to
all Americans because it was in
that year the locomotive "Tom Thumb"
ran a race with a horse-drawn
car at Baltimore. It was in that year that the first locomotive, "Best
Friend of Charleston," was placed in regular service on any American
railroad. And the next year the "De Witt Clinton" made its first run
from Albany to Schenectady.

To appreciate what this meant in those days we
should remember our
country at that time was largely a rich, unexplored wilderness. It
needed transportation for its development. There were waterways
and a few turnpikes but the country needed more than that - it must
have an all year round transportation system. From this great need
came the Railroad. Horses were used for power before the locomotive.
The first tracks were wooden rails, then wooden rails topped with iron
straps, and then the iron "T" rail.